Eatyourkimchi Five Year Anniversary

Five years ago, on May 30th, we moved to Korea. We arrived in Bucheon, to our first apartment, right beside central park. Our co-teachers showed us our new place, told us some basics about our schedule, and then left us so we can rest from our flight. We unpacked for a little bit, and then went out right away to start exploring the area. We looked for restaurants to eat in, but we didn’t know how to read Korean at the time, so we kept on looking for pictures until we found something that we recognized from the Korean food we ate back in Toronto. Eventually we stumbled upon a Soondubu Jigae restaurant, which had an English menu, and we ordered two bowls for ourselves. We pulled out our small point and shoot camera, which had video recording function as well, and shot our first video.

We haven’t stopped filming since.

Things have changed a lot since then. We adopted a dog and dyed him green, then blue. We taught for 2-3 years, then stopped teaching so we could focus on our videos. We moved to another apartment in Bucheon. We got a kitten who has his PhD. We moved to our third apartment, this time in Seoul, set up an official business, raised money to open our studio, expanded the EYK Crew, started filming interviews with musicians, started travelling to different countries, and we got the chance to meet face to face with some of the Nasties!

Out of all the things that are happening, we’re always happiest that we found a lovely community of people who watch our videos with us, leave comments, and chat with us. Talking with you guise and seeing your support over the years – even when we mess up and say or do dumb things – really keeps us going. We’ve been doing this for five years because of you, and will keep on doing this as long as you’re there with us. Don’t ever think that we take you for granted, if you’re a new viewer or if you’ve been watching for a long time, you’re the most important part of our driving force. Every video we put out has a different goal. We make some videos to make you laugh, we go to locations that we think you’ll find fasinating, we make videos that we hope can be helpful, and we wait excitedly to see the comments and reactions that come in after every video, picture, and blog post. So thank you for all your interactions, support, and Nastiness.

Also, if you like the AMAZING MUSIC we used for this video, you can thank Glen Check. We used the song “Concorde” off their 1집 Haute Couture album.

We are on good terms with SoundHolic Music in Korea, which likes the idea of us promoting their music, so they let us use some of their tracks. That’s pretty fantastic because Glen Check is one of our big favorites in Korea! We have all their albums!!! Totally awesome! If you want to hear more of Glen Check (and other bands we love and have reviewed before) check out SoundHolic’s YouTube page, their Sound Cloud, and their Facebook.

Aaaa my feels! So many nostalgia feels! Even if it was just 3 years ago I started watching. But you can get nostalgia feels in 3 years right? I remember watching back when you were living at an officetel, the WTFs, the early music mondays. It’s so fun and awe-inspiring seeing how far you have come in such a short space of time. I hope you continue to grow in the future! /)*3*(

Awww… Congratulations on 5yrs and may there be heaps load too come ^=^! Btw I’m a longtime follower but a newb at tech and social media and I just recently figured out posting comments and I think I got a bit too excited on the past posts I’m catching up to ^^’

I remember seeing you guise first when I was watching running man (still remember your reactions to that mystery sauce, as a daughter of a retired caterer and still awesome cook all around, I was cringing at what they were doing to that sauce ~~’ *shudder*)

Then later on I don’t remember exactly what I was looking for but then I saw one of your videos on a how to something but I know it was about food for sure and then it was kpop! And from there I got into this universe of kpop kfood and nasties with people that I can relate to… I grew up with Sailormoon cartoons too! With a lot more animes like Dragon Ball, Voltes 5, Fushigi Yuugi, Yu Yu Hakusho and a lot more in the mix!

I love how you gave honest opinions about the kpop songs and videos because I gotta admit I am associated with a fangurilla who did intro me to kpop in the first place, so I must not judge too harshly, and I swear most of the time I will also make fun of it and I would get frustrated with their engrish

Anyways, what I’m trying to say is thank you as well for continuing to entertain us with your quirky jokes, honest opinions and nuggets of wisdom!

Awww… Congratulations on 5yrs and may there be heaps load too come ^=^! Hi I’m a long time follower but just recently getting the hang of posting comments so I think I’m getting too excited with the past post I’m catching up on ^^’

I remember seeing you guise first when I was watching running man (still remember your reactions to that mystery sauce, as a daughter of a retired caterer and still awesome cook all around, I was cringing at what they were doing to that sauce ~~’ *shudder*)

Then later on I don’t remember exactly what I was looking for but then I saw one of your videos on a how to something but I know it was about food for sure and then it was kpop! And from there I got into this universe of kpop kfood and nasties with people that I can relate to… I grew up with Sailormoon cartoons too! With a lot more animes like Dragon Ball, Voltes 5, Fushigi Yuugi, Yu Yu Hakusho and a lot more in the mix!
I love how you gave honest opinions about the kpop songs and videos because I gotta admit I am associated with a fangurilla who did intro me to kpop in the first place, so I must not judge too harshly, and I swear most of the time I will also make fun of it and I would get frustrated with their engrish as well ><" oh and also luv that you guise intro me to k-indie songs coz they're awesome! Right now I'm still into IdioTape and Moofbooty and my friends be like 'this song is awesome, who this?' (And yes we make fun of our engrish as well) and I got a friend to be an avid follower of yours… Woah this getting long…
Anyways, what I'm trying to say is thank you as well for continuing to entertain us with your quirky jokes, honest opinions and nuggets of wisdom!

Happy 5th Anniversary!!!! I may only be a Nasty for a few months (my first song was “i wish” from ft island <3) but I have almost watched every single video of yours. It´s difficult to find friends who are as obsessed with Korean music as I am. (because in Europe K-Pop isn´t really well known, except for Psy of course) And sometimes you want to share your opinion on a song or want to know the opinion of another person, which proves to be quite difficult, if all of your friends listen to mainstream music… Therefore I am really grateful to both of you. Even though I don´t know every single song you review, it´s still fun to watch it. I especially love the ft island (obviously), Big Bang/ G-Dragon, and 2ne1 Music Mondays. Keep it up.
P.S.: I LOVE SPUDGY AND MEEMERS!!!!!

Aww man the feels watching that montage was awesome! So proud of you guys! I wasn’t there right from the get go but I have been following you for over two years and I can’t believe it’s been that long! You guys always make my Mondays and every other day of the week when you put up another video! I don’t know what video it was that lead me to watching one of your teach kpop dance videos and it made me curious so I clicked on the channel and started watching all the videos you had at the time. I miss the WTF videos but I love the KMM, TL;DR, FapFap, and Wanks.
I think I enjoy watching you guys so much because you aren’t afraid to poke fun at yourselves and are honest, humble, and down to earth. You put your hearts into all that you do and it shows. I can probably type until my fingers fall off but I don’t think anything I put down into words will truly express how touched I am by you guys. I honestly can say I don’t have many people to look to as inspiration but you guys without a doubt are two of the most important role models to me. I might not have much to offer in showing my appreciation but I will continue to follow you for as long as you guys continue doing what you’re doing. So Happy 5th Anniversary and here’s to many many more!

Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to write a novel but then my posts end up disjointed and perhaps confusing because I can’t type enough to express myself properly. So here is a little fanmail on your anniversary.

Dear Simon and Martina,

I feel myself so lucky and privileged to be just one of the so many people around the world that feel connected to you. Without intending it you have drawn in and created a your own group/society/family of people that all enjoy a lot of the same things and above all, laughing and loving. I guess that we’ve all felt kind of geeky or alone or even misunderstood at times in our adoration of certain things and now you’ve brought us all together so that we can share our common interests and even bits of each other. You’ve even introduced us to many new loves. I don’t think that tourism S. Korea could pay enough money for an ad campaign better than you and I don’t think that you could go for more than a day in any country without someone wanting to hug you. It’s a wonderful thing you have done, are doing, and hopefully will continue to do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart which this video just helps to overflow with love and LOLs.

I started by watching Kpop Music Monday and then branched out to TL;DRs and then on to WANKs and FAPFAPs. I then started making my way through the archives of all the types of videos. Frankly, I am convinced that you could talk about chopped liver and make it sound exciting and hilarious and probably even delicious. I guess that by not watching systematically or sequentially, I must have missed a lot because there are quite a few of clips in the video that I don’t recognize. Feels awesome that there is still so much more for me to watch for the first time. I do watch certain videos again and again, especially when I need a pick-me-up. Any of your videos is pretty much guaranteed laughs. Even weird ones like when you surprised your parents in Canada – I couldn’t help but giggle in anticipation the whole time. You guys film some of the weirdest moments, I mean that in a good way, the stuff that is real and personal and you put yourself out there and its endearing and adorable…..and manly? ;) I also watch all the livechats, even when I miss them live because I appreciate the ridiculous effort and postage paid that it takes to send that fan mail. I am envious of those Nasties, perhaps I will feel that I have something sufficient to say or send that makes it worth the money. In the meantime, I hope my cheap words here can let you know that it’s a great and precious thing that you do and I really appreciate it……..Please don’t stop. We’ll all go one without you someday if we have to, and maybe we’ll even have each other to help manage, but you make our lives so much brighter by being yourselves and bringing us together.

Cyber_3 – meant this to be funny and somehow it turned out all sappy….ah well, never drink and type :P

p.s. When I started making dresses in 2009 – I first did a lot of google image searches on the competition and for “Toronto” and “wedding dress” I kept getting the same result of this photo again and again for a “wedding couple” that stayed at The Gladstone in Sept. 2004? I didn’t understand then what the hype was that had lasted 5 years but I recognized you from your photo in your TL;DR for your wedding and then I understood the hype from your story. From the moment it was formalized (or perhaps even before), the internet would know the names and faces of Simon and Martina Stawski – cheers! ^_^v

Congratulations Simon&Martina~ I haven’t been here since the beginning but I’ve been a NASTEEEH for quite long (3 years if I’m not mistaken) and I have to say that you guys are truly amazing. You bring so much joy to my life and also never fail to bring a smile to my face. It’s such a joy to watch EYK on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays ^^ EAT YOUR KIMCHI COMPLETES MY WEEK AND DOESN’T MAKE IT AS CRAPPY I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I would tear up right about now but I’m soulless and emotionless so I don’t think it’s going to be possible.

Back to ahem my congratulations – I remember when I first saw your videos, I thought you were awesome because of the love between you guys and foreigners living and documenting their experiences in Korea and the culture there – HOW AWESOME IS THAT. As I watched more and more of your videos I found out a lot and grew to love you even more. For starters, TORONTO REPRESENT HOLLA. Another thing is how SANE you seemed to me. The only fandom I knew back then were prissy pre-teens who were nearly sasaeng. EYK provided me with a community where I could properly share my thoughts and read other peoples’ real opinions. SO ANOTHER BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, I PROBABLY WOULD BE FANGIRLING TO NO END, JUST CARING ABOUT HOW IDOLS LOOK.

So I realized this is getting long and I should probably finish an essay for school but I just have to list one more thing. I love how you guys appreciate EVERYTHING. You’re also not afraid to share your thoughts or speak your mind. You know your own thoughts clearly, your right and your wrong and you stand by your own opinion firmly. I find that I look up to you because your morals are amazing. They’re very sensible to me and hearing them makes me glad because it shows that there is some good in this world, still.

So ayyyy gurl, if your ever back in Toronto – CAN I BUY YOU A DRAANK? -rolls down my sexy windows-
Thank you once again for making the amazing videos, cheering up my week, creating a wonderful community, inspiring me and most importantly, for being so nasty <3

I made a nasty birthday cake for myself, but I also had the intention for it to be our nasty 5th anniversary cake! I know Simon and Martina got to see it, but I thought I would share it here as well for the rest of the nasty community to enjoy!!
If you want to see more angles or close ups you can visit my deviantart account here http://puppichu.deviantart.com/gallery/39213906
^.^

Even though I only recently became a Nasty (I first watched a video in September of 2012) I really want to thank you two for this site and all your awesome videos.
I wanted to teach English overseas and I had decided on Asia, but I didn’t know which country I wanted to go to. I watched Simon’s two videos on teaching middle school lessons, which led into watching EYK videos all day! I think I was hooked within 12 hours.
Now, I’ve been offered a job with EPIK and I should be there in September teaching! You guys made life in Korea seem so awesome that I wanted to experience it. But you also made the prospect of moving to a foreign country where I don’t speak the language or know the culture very well less scary with your insights and your humour.
We have a lot in common (I’m also from Toronto and an English major) so I related to you and thought “They can do it, I can do it.”
So, long winded story short, thanks for everything. Keep being awesome.
Lots of Nasty love from,
Rachel from Toronto around Bloor/Jane

I LOVE YOU GUISE AND THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH. Seriously, I’m proud to say I’ve seen all those videos and I can’t wait to continue to watch Simon and Martina and this community grow. Ahh so much nasty love.

We love you guise!!! Thank you for entertaining us, educating us and inspiring us. You bring joy to soooo many people. My days wouldn’t be the same without my daily dose of eyk. Our lives are better and more fun because of YOU.

Thank you, guys…thank you for your hard work, for your kindness, your liveliness, your playfulness, your nAAAstiness, your innocence…thank you for opening a new world for me, for tens of hours of laughing and good mood and all smiles that you bring to faces of people all over the world…thank you for encouraging me to discover the world…thank you for your existance! I love you, guys! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!)))))

Happy 5th year anniversary! Thank you for all the wonderful laughs you’ve brought me, for the amazing Korean music (kpop and indie) that you have introduced me, for a window into Korean food and places to visit. Just thank you for everything that you do. When I found you guys I was at a loss on where to go further with Kpop, I only had two bands SS501 and U-KISS (0330 is how I found you guys) and since then my music collection has expanded and my world grown. I got all misty eyed reading your blog post, I’m a Nasty going two years strong (wow its seems like much longer, in a good way, probably because I’ve seen every video you’ve posted.) Watching your 5 yr montage sent me back to rewatch your interview with MBLAQ. I’d sort of forgotten that G.O.’s love for you guys cause me to in turn notice him and ultimately fall for his manly charming ways. Anywho, what I’m trying to say is you guys are awesome, I love ya both, Spudgy, Meems, Soo Zee and Leigh, keep on keep on always are Nasty Masters! :D

T_T aaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! *sniff sniff* it’s lovely to see how things have changed for you guys!! i’m so glad of the day i discovered you guys (SHINee Japanese Replay review!!!) and ever since i’ve been addicted to your crazy and weird videos!! (in a good was of course!!)
congrats on the 5th anniversary!!
next year you should get SHINee for your 6th anniversary (since it’ll also be their 6th and both your anniversary dates are so close) and have a fantastic elastic party!! and then Simon can have a dance off with Taemin!! (yeah…like that’ll ever happen…. but i can dream!! i mean….it would be AMAZING if it ever did happen!)

on another note, my friend just got married today ahaha!! so that’ll be another anniversary i remember on this day!!

It’s so weird to think it’s been 5 years already. It feels like just last year you guys started f.a.p f.a.p and W.A.N.K and yet it’s been this long. I hope to see more and Congratz on you’re anniversary!

In honor of your 5 year anniversary, you guys should talk about any changes you’ve seen happen in Korea and yourselves over the 5 years (if there are any haha) for your next TLDR. Maybe make a reflection video and make it all sentimental and stuffs so we canz happy cry! ;A;

Thank you two for an amazing 5 years! I hope I get to see many more :]
Love you guys! <3

Happy 5 year anniversary !!!
Thank you so much to you two for all you have done so far and everything you do for us Nasties every day <
I hope that when I come visit Korea this summer I'll get a chance to see you, it would be very special <3
For more than 2 years I have been following you guys and I can say that so far in my life this was one of the best things I have ever done ^.^
Love from a French Nasty to all the EYK crew + Spudgy and Meemers <3

Thank you so much for all the super hard work you have put into all the videos and the awesomeness of all you have done and while I am a new k-pop fan/Nasty (since last October), y’all have helped me spread my wings culturally and musically. I have finally gotten out of the repeat Country music cycle so popular where I live (don’t ask how I can love country and k-pop, it’s weird I know) with KMMs and you guys have introduced me to so many new bands and song, more than I ever thought existed. And I really appreciate getting to see a culture so radically different from the sleepy little town I grew up in where everyone knows everyone and all their business. It really has inspired me to make something much better than myself and to grow and see how much I can accomplish.